Surgeon v/s Hematologist

I was to have surgey on the 20th with an out of town surgeon (2 hr.drive) He is going to do a colon resection which takes 4-5 hrs. He called yesterday and said I would not be coming in to hospital 2 days prior to get IVIG transfusion because he would give me the transfusion the morning of the surgery and during surgery. He said platelets are destroyed so quickly and this is the way he wanted it done.

I went to see hematologist last Monday and he told me to get transfusion 2 days prior to surgery to get my count to 60-70 at a safe range. I called my hematologist after speaking with surgeon and he said "no no no" it SHOULD be done days before surgery not day of surery or doing surgery because it wasn't an emergency surgery.

I called surgeon and left message saying I wanted to cancel surgery and got a call this morning from surgeon telling me he talked to hematologist over in his area and I could come in Saturday and get transfusion and have surgery early Tuesday morning. I still cancelled surgery because I did not like my surgeons attitude.

Who should I have believed???? Surgeon or Hematologist. I don't understand why it was so much conflict.

So I am going to see another surgeon Wed. the 21st to have another surgey schelduled by another dr.

Should I also get another hematologist? I mean who should I believe??

It sounds like the surgeon was confused at first and thought you were getting a platelet transfusion instead of IVIG. Platelet transfusions are how he described. Maybe he didn't want to admit his misunderstanding. But if you need the surgery, now that the meds are straightened out, is he the best bet for the surgery? Despite being kind of a jerk?
Erica

IVIG should be given about two days before surgery, yes. A platelet transfusion should be given during surgery, if necessary. Sounds like someone got their wires crossed.

Thanks Eklein and Sandy I am going Wednesday the 21st to see another surgeon. My other surgeon who I cancelled the surgery with just seemed to be a jerk so I wasn't comfortable with him doing my surgery. He seemed to have a stern bad attitude. Hope this new surgeon knows how to treat ITP and get advice from a doctor who knows how to treat people with low counts.

Feeling okay with your surgeon is what makes surgery a success.

Charlotte why not have your surgeon and your hematologist get together on what to do?